Digital Web Review

The Android P Beta 3 is here for Pixel devices

| By Shandilya

Google has released the fourth Developer Preview (DP) of Android P for the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL with little late of three weeks than its previous version. This release candidate build includes the final APIs and near-final system images for developers to continue testing app compatibility.

The DP4 images are now live on Google’s website for the four devices, and the OTA updates are being rolled out too. Android P DP4 system images are available for the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL, with those on the Android Beta Program receiving an update notification shortly. What you need to do is head to the settings menu and check for your update. This new update includes some changes, strangely enough, because, in DP4 and DP5, Google usually fixes the bugs and stabilizes the overall performance.

If you have one of the many phones from other manufacturers — like Vivo, Essential, OnePlus and Xiaomi — you’ll have to wait for a little bit to get your update; Google says they’ll be pushing out the latest version “in the coming weeks.”

What you really expect from new update? The DP4 comes with a handful of new features such as revised gesture navigation button, a toggle for choosing light/dark mode and others. Speaking about new features, Android Police reported that Google has modified the gesture navigation back button, which is now similar to the Xiaomi’s on-screen back navigation key. And also recent apps navigation bar now occupies the entire bottom portion, rather than the half portion. One of the best feature provided by Google is the ability to manually choose dark and light launcher themes.

Google has now added a new setting ‘Device theme’ under the Display section with three options- Automatic (based on wallpaper), Light and Dark. So if a user selects the Dark theme, then the navigation panel becomes dark.

Compared to last year, there will be one more release after DP4 that will officially serve as the “release candidate for final testing.” It will arrive sometime after July but before the final Q3 release to AOSP and OEMs.If you want more updates on Google upgrades to stay tuned.